Astoria Gets Into the Holiday Spirit with Tree Lightings, Santa Visits, Toy Drives and More

via NYC Parks

Nov. 30, 2018 By Meghan Sackman

Holiday spirit is in the air, with several holiday-themed activities planned throughout Astoria beginning this weekend.

Kicking off the festivities is the sixth annual holiday tree lighting at Astoria Park’s Great Lawn. The event begins at 2 p.m. on Dec. 1, where there will be face painting, balloon art, and treats like candy apples to go around. The tree will then be lit at 5 p.m.

Kids will also get a chance to ride a toy rain and play with a giant life sized snow globe, all while listening to Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa music at the lawn, located at 19th Street and 23rd Avenue.

The Kaufman Astoria Studios will then host another tree lighting event just a few days later on Dec. 7. The ceremony, the fourth for the studio, features caroling and the lighting of a large tree decorated by P.S. 166 students.

The hour-long event begins at 3:30 p.m. at the studios, located at 34-12 36th St.

The festive cheer continues into the following weekend, with Santa set to visit Steinway Street on Dec. 9 from midday to 4 p.m.

Kids will be able to take photos and receive gifts from Santa at the event, to be held at the Sol Dance Center located at 30-16 Steinway St. Face painting and balloon art will also be available at the event, sponsored by Council Member Costa Constantinides.

Attendees are urged to bring their own cameras to the event.

The season also includes ongoing charitable events, like a gift and coat drive organized by Constantinides and other area officials.

Those interested in donating unwrapped gifts for Constantinides’ toy drive can do so every weekday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Dec. 14 at his office, located at 31-09 Newtown Ave., Suite 209.

Coats can also be dropped off at Constantinides’ office, with other Queens electeds like Council Members Jimmy Van Bramer, Bob Holden, and Assemblymember Brian Barnwell also participating.

The NYC Ferry system is set to undergo a significant expansion in coming months, with the Astoria route, connecting the western Queens neighborhood to Wall Street, getting a new stop at the Brooklyn Navy Yard this spring.

A 24-year-old Brooklyn man who crashed his car on the BQE in 2017 and left a 25-year-old Astoria woman inside his burning vehicle to die was sentenced yesterday to four to 12 years in prison, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office.